초록 ▼

A carrying system is provided for use with breathing apparatus. The carrying system includes a backplate and a plurality of straps adapted to hold the backplate on the back of a user when the carrying system is worn. The backplate includes at least one plate of a plastics material. The at least one

A carrying system is provided for use with breathing apparatus. The carrying system includes a backplate and a plurality of straps adapted to hold the backplate on the back of a user when the carrying system is worn. The backplate includes at least one plate of a plastics material. The at least one plate having a predetermined shape and the at least one plate being adapted to provide impact protection to a user during use by at least partially absorbing and/or dispersing impact forces, and to deform resiliency in response to external forces imposed by bending and/or twisting of a user during use and return substantially to its predetermined shape when not subjected to an external force.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A carrying system for use with breathing apparatus, the carrying system comprising: a backplate configured to receive a breathing apparatus mounted thereto, the backplate comprising a unitary, one-piece plate formed of a plastic material, the plate having a predetermined shape including an upper

1. A carrying system for use with breathing apparatus, the carrying system comprising: a backplate configured to receive a breathing apparatus mounted thereto, the backplate comprising a unitary, one-piece plate formed of a plastic material, the plate having a predetermined shape including an upper end region and a lower end region, the plate having an inner side and an opposite outer side, the inner side facing a user when the carrying system is worn by the user, the plate being configured to provide impact protection to the user during use by at least one of absorbing or dispersing impact forces, the plate being configured to deform resiliently in response to external forces imposed by at least one of bending or twisting of the user during use and return substantially to its predetermined shape when not subjected to an external force;an attachment member mounted on the outer side of the plate, the attachment member configured to releasably mount a breathing apparatus that includes an air cylinder along the outer side such that the plate is disposed between the breathing apparatus and the user;two shoulder straps attached to the plate of the backplate at the upper end region; anda waist strap attached to the plate of the backplate at the lower end region, the waist strap including an attachment segment thereof, the attachment segment being attached to the plate and overlying the lower end region of the plate, the waist strap and the shoulder straps configured to hold the backplate on a back of the user when the carrying system is worn by the user such that when the user's back undergoes a twisting movement, the waist strap and the shoulder straps impose a torsional force on the plate causing the plate to deform torsionally. 2. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the plate of the backplate has a mid-section extending between the upper end region and the lower end region, the upper and lower end regions being wider than the mid-section. 3. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the shoulder straps are attached to the plate at first points of attachment, the backplate comprising an upper guard region extending between the first points of attachment and an upper edge of the backplate, the carrying system further comprising two tensioning straps attached to and extending between the upper guard region and the shoulder straps, the tensioning straps attached to the upper guard region at second points of attachment spaced apart from the first points of attachment of the shoulder straps to the plate, the upper guard region configured to flex relative to a remainder of the backplate when tension is applied to the tensioning straps so as to substantially overlie and protect at least one of the cervical area or the upper thoracic area of the user. 4. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the backplate further comprises one or more areas of thermoformed padding. 5. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the waist strap is pivotally attached to the plate of the backplate to permit relative pivotal movement between the waist strap and the plate. 6. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the backplate extends along a central longitudinal axis, the plate being configured to twist about the central longitudinal axis in response to the twisting movement of the user's back. 7. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the upper end region of the plate aligns approximately with an upper thoracic region of the user's back and the lower end region aligns approximately with a lumbar region of the user's back. 8. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the plate of the backplate is the only plate of the backplate. 9. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner side or the outer side of the plate is covered in a flame retardant material. 10. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the shoulder straps and the waist strap are directly attached to the plate of the backplate. 11. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the plate of the backplate extends a length between a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the plate disposed above the waist strap along the length of the plate, the bottom end of the plate disposed below the waist strap along the length of the plate. 12. The carrying system of claim 1, wherein the attachment segment of the waist strap that overlies the lower end region of the plate is attached to the inner side of the plate. 13. A carrying system for use with breathing apparatus, the carrying system comprising: a backplate comprising a unitary, one-piece plate, the plate including an upper end region and a lower end region;two shoulder straps attached to the plate of the backplate at the upper end region; anda waist strap attached to the plate of the backplate at the lower end region, the waist strap including an attachment segment thereof, the attachment segment being attached to the plate and overlying the lower end region of the plate, the waist strap and the shoulder straps configured to hold the backplate on a back of a user when the carrying system is worn by the user such that when the user's back undergoes a twisting movement, the waist strap and the shoulder straps impose a torsional force on the plate of the backplate causing the plate to deform torsionally, the backplate further comprising: a first attachment member mounted on the plate configured to releasably mount a breathing apparatus to the backplate, the first attachment member being configured to releasably attach to a connecting part of the breathing apparatus that connects an air cylinder to one or more air supply hoses; anda locking element configured to be attached to the connecting part of the breathing apparatus, the locking element being rotatable relative to the first attachment member between a locked position and an unlocked position, the connecting part and the first attachment member being locked together when the locking element is in the locked position, the connecting part and the first attachment member being releasable from each other when the locking element is in the unlocked position, wherein the first attachment member is manually releasably attachable to and from the connecting part of the breathing apparatus by the user without the use of a tool. 14. The carrying system of claim 13, wherein the first attachment member comprises an aperture configured to receive the locking element, the aperture being shaped to permit the locking element to rotate within the aperture between the unlocked and locked positions. 15. The carrying system of claim 13, wherein the locking element comprises a shoulder that is configured to engage an edge of the first attachment member when the locking element is in the locked position, the shoulder being configured to disengage the edge when the locking element is in the unlocked position. 16. The carrying system of claim 13, wherein the locking element comprises a shoulder that is configured to engage an edge of an aperture of the first attachment member when the locking element is in the locked position, a pressure of air flowing through the connecting part acts on at least one of the shoulder, another shoulder, or a flange of the locking element to rotationally fix the locking element in the locked position. 17. The carrying system of claim 13, wherein the backplate further comprises a second attachment member mounted on the plate of the backplate, the second attachment member comprising a cylinder supporting surface and an adjustable flexible strap for encircling the air cylinder of the breathing apparatus, the cylinder supporting surface and the flexible strap forming a continuous loop having a manually adjustable diameter to conform to the diameter of the air cylinder. 18. The carrying system of claim 17, wherein the flexible strap includes a strap lock for locking the strap at a chosen strap loop diameter, the strap lock comprising a pair of pivotally connected strap holding members wherein the pivotal connection of the pair of strap holding members includes a locking mechanism for locking the relative position of the pair of strap holding members, the locking mechanism further includes a pair of opposing release buttons for manual release of the locking mechanism. 19. The carrying system of claim 17, wherein the second attachment member further includes one or more hose channels for releasably engaging one or more air supply hoses of the breathing apparatus, the hose channels being configured to provide an interference fit for the air supply hoses, whereby a user may engage and disengage the one or more air supply hoses to and from the hose channels without the use of a tool. 20. The carrying system of claim 17, wherein the first and second attachment members are separated by a distance corresponding to over half the length of the air cylinder of the breathing apparatus. 21. A carrying system for use with breathing apparatus, the carrying system comprising: a backplate comprising a unitary, one-piece plate, the plate including an upper end region and a lower end region;two shoulder straps attached to the plate of the backplate at the upper end region; anda waist strap attached to the plate of the backplate at the lower end region, the waist strap including an attachment segment thereof, the attachment segment being attached to the plate and overlying the lower end region of the plate, the waist strap and the shoulder straps configured to hold the backplate on a back of a user when the carrying system is worn by the user such that when the user's back undergoes a twisting movement, the waist strap and the shoulder straps impose a torsional force on the plate causing the plate to deform torsionally, the backplate further comprising: a first attachment member mounted on the plate configured to releasably mount a breathing apparatus to the backplate, the first attachment member being configured to releasably attach to a connecting part of the breathing apparatus that connects an air cylinder to one or more air supply hoses; anda locking element configured to be attached to the connecting part of the breathing apparatus, the locking element having a locked position and an unlocked position, the connecting part and the first attachment member being locked together when the locking element is in the locked position, the connecting part and the first attachment member being releasable from each other when the locking element is in the unlocked position, wherein a pressure of air flowing through the connecting part holds the locking element in the locked position during use of the breathing apparatus by the user, and wherein the first attachment member is manually releasably attachable to and from the connecting part of the breathing apparatus by the user without the use of a tool. 22. The carrying system of claim 21, wherein the locking element is rotatable relative to the first attachment member between the locked and unlocked positions. 23. The carrying system of claim 21, wherein the locking element comprises a shoulder and the first attachment member defines an aperture that is configured to receive the locking element therein, the shoulder of the locking element being configured to engage an edge of the aperture when the locking element is in the locked position within the aperture, the shoulder of the locking element being configured to disengage the edge of the aperture when the locking element is in the unlocked position within the aperture.